25. Oh, they'd agree with you about the sway of books over some people.

They are highly educated and many have devoted their entire lives to the study, discussion and teaching of ideas (good and bad,just as you point out). I'm sure they would very much enjoy having the debate with you that you have raised here.

But you have to understand their culture. Very different from a gun culture. They think a gun culture is basically uncivilized. They would say it is inconsistent with a civil society. They, and those who were here before them formed that culture. It is what they want in their lives.